Deflector apparatus for vehicle

ABSTRACT

A deflector apparatus for a vehicle includes a fixed frame, a movable frame positioned at an upper side of the fixed frame and being rotatable between a raised position and a retracted position, a mesh member connected to the fixed frame and the movable frame and brought to a raised state and a retracted state, and a spring member. The spring member includes a sliding portion fitted to a guide groove formed at the movable frame and slidably making contact with the guide groove to transmit a biasing force of the spring member in a state where the movable frame is rotating. The spring member further includes an engagement portion engaging with the movable frame when the movable frame is in the raised position. The movable frame is configured to be maintained at the raised position by the engagement with the engagement portion of the spring member.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 toJapanese Patent Application 2011-073130, filed on Mar. 29, 2011, theentire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to a deflector apparatus for avehicle.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

A known deflector apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,834,914 (hereinafter referred to as Reference 1), for example. Thedeflector apparatus (wind deflector) disclosed in Reference 1 is mountedat a front edge of a roof opening formed at a vehicle roof. In a casewhere a cover in a sliding roof system for opening and closing the roofopening is opened, the deflector apparatus is raised above the vehicleroof. The deflector apparatus includes a base element extending alongthe front edge of the roof opening and fixed to a mounting frameextending along the front edge of the roof opening. The deflectorapparatus further includes a raising device rotatably connected to thebase element via a pivot device so as to be movable between a retractedposition and a raised position. The raising device is biased into theraised position by a resilient member. Further, a deflecting elementhaving flexibility and air-permeable properties is disposed between thebase element and the raising device. The deflecting element is stretchedwhen the raising device is transferred into the raised position so as tobe raised above the vehicle roof together with the raising device. Thedeflecting element decreases an aerial vibration (i.e., a wind throb)generated when wind enters the roof opening of the vehicle roof.

According to the deflector apparatus disclosed in Reference 1, theraising device is maintained at the raised position by means of thedeflecting element. That is, the raised position of the raising deviceis determined by a height of the deflecting element. The movement(rotation) of the raising device is stopped at a position where thedeflecting element is stretched taut by means of a biasing force of theresilient member. According to such configuration, the biasing force ofthe resilient member is mainly applied to the deflecting element whenthe raising device is arranged at the raised position, which may causethe deflecting element to extend excessively. The height of thedeflecting element is generally specified so as to effectively decreasethe wind throb and to restrain a large wind noise depending on aconfiguration such as size of the roof opening. Therefore, in a casewhere the deflecting element excessively extends so that the heightthereof increases, the wind noise may increase.

A need thus exists for a deflector apparatus for a vehicle which is notsusceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of this disclosure, a deflector apparatus for avehicle for arrangement along a front-inner periphery of an openingformed in a roof portion of the vehicle, the deflector apparatusincludes a fixed frame provided at the roof portion, a movable framepositioned at an upper side of the fixed frame and being rotatablebetween a raised position and a retracted position, a mesh memberconnected to the fixed frame and the movable frame and brought to araised state and a retracted state by a rotation of the movable frame,the mesh member extending above a surface of the roof portion in theraised state, and a spring member biasing the movable frame to theraised position. The spring member includes a sliding portion fitted toa guide groove that is formed at the movable frame and slidably makingcontact with the guide groove to transmit a biasing force of the springmember in a state where the movable frame is rotating. The spring memberfurther includes an engagement portion engaging with the movable framewhen the movable frame is in the raised position. The movable frame isconfigured to be maintained at the raised position by the engagementwith the engagement portion of the spring member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of thisdisclosure will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription considered with the reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roof where a deflector according to anembodiment is mounted;

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically illustrating a sunroof apparatuswhere the deflector is mounted;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the deflector according to theembodiment;

FIG. 4A is a side view of a movable frame of the deflector;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IVB-IVB in FIG.4A;

FIG. 5A is a plan view of a holder member and a torsion spring of thedeflector;

FIG. 5B is a side view of the holder member and the torsion spring;

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the deflector in a retractedposition;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the deflector in a raised position;and

FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically illustrating a movable frame and atorsion spring according to another example of the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment will be explained with reference to the attached drawings.In the embodiment, directions and orientations such as left, right,front, rear, top, and bottom correspond to those of a vehicle where adeflector apparatus for a vehicle is mounted. As illustrated in FIG. 1,a roof 10 serving as a roof portion of a vehicle, for example, includesa roof opening 10 a serving as an opening and substantially having arectangular shape. A sunroof apparatus 11 mounted at the roof 10includes a deflector 12 arranged and supported at a front edge (afront-inner periphery) of the roof opening 10 a. The deflector 12 servesas a deflector apparatus for a vehicle. The sunroof apparatus 11 alsoincludes a movable panel 13 substantially having a rectangular shape andformed by a glass plate, for example. The movable panel 13 moves in alongitudinal direction of the vehicle to thereby open and close the roofopening 10 a.

The deflector 12 attached to the roof 10 rotates relative to a rearportion of the deflector 12 to thereby move a front portion upward,i.e., the deflector 12 is tiltable in an upward direction. The deflector12 is tilted up by being released from the movable panel 13 when themovable panel 13 performs an opening operation to thereby extend abovean upper surface of the roof 10 (i.e., the deflector 12 is brought intoa raised state or position). On the other hand, the deflector 12 ispressed down by the movable panel 13 when the movable panel 13 performsa closing operation to be thereby retracted below the upper surface ofthe roof 10 (i.e., the deflector 12 is brought into a retracted state orposition). The deflector 12 is brought into the raised position in acase where the roof opening 10 a is opened, thereby inhibiting an aerialvibration (a wind throb) caused by a wind intrusion into a vehicleinterior.

The movable panel 13 attached to the roof 10 rotates relative to a frontportion of the movable panel 13 to thereby move a rear portion upward,i.e., the movable panel 13 is tiltable in the upward direction and isslidable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In a case wherethe movable panel 13 performs the opening and closing operation, themovable panel 13 is sliding in the tilted-up state. That is, an outersliding type is applied to the sunroof apparatus 11 according to thepresent embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sunroof apparatus 11 includes a pair ofguide rails 14 arranged and fixed to both side edges of the roof opening10 a in a width direction of the vehicle. Each of the guide rails 14,which is made of an aluminum alloy extruded material, for example,extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle while having aconstant cross section in the longitudinal direction. Drive mechanismsare slidably attached to the guide rails 14 respectively so as to drivethe movable panel 13 to open and close. Both side edge portions of themovable panel 13 in the width direction of the vehicle are fixed andsupported to the drive mechanisms of the guide rails 14 so that themovable panel 13 is arranged therebetween.

The sunroof apparatus 11 includes a front housing 15 at the front edgeof the roof opening 10 a. The front housing 15 made of resin extends inthe width direction of the vehicle so as to connect front end portionsof the guide rails 14. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, a drain portion16 is formed at the front housing 15 so as to extend in the widthdirection of the vehicle. The drain portion 16 includes a front wallportion 16 a, a rear wall portion 16 b, and a bottom portion 16 c tothereby form a box shape of which an upper side is open. Both endportions of the drain portion 16 in the width direction of the vehicleare bent in a rearward direction of the vehicle so as to face therespective guide rails 14. The front housing 15 is formed into the boxshape having an opening at the upper side because of the drain portion16 to thereby define a storage space for the deflector 12 and tofunction as a drainage channel around the roof opening 10 a. Inaddition, guide rail drain portions 14 a are formed at the respectiveguide rails 14 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of thevehicle. The guide rail drain portions 14 a are connected to the drainportion 16 of the front housing 15 so that a liquid collected in theguide rail drain portions 14 a flows into the drain portion 16. Theliquid collected in the drain portion 16 is discharged to the outsidefrom an outlet 17 integrally formed at the front housing 15 asillustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

The deflector 12 and a structure to support the deflector 12 will beexplained below. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the deflector 12 includes afixed frame 21 supported by the guide rails 14 and the front housing 15,a movable frame 22 positioned at an upper side of the fixed frame 21,and a mesh member 23 extending between the fixed frame 21 and themovable frame 22. In FIG. 3, an illustration of the mesh member 23 isomitted.

The fixed frame 21 includes a front portion 21 a extending in the widthdirection of the vehicle at an upper side of the drain portion 16 and apair of side portions 21 b connected to both ends of the front portion21 a in the width direction of the vehicle so as to extend in therearward direction of the vehicle. The front portion 21 a of the fixedframe 21 is supported by a pair of holder members 24 fixedly provided inthe drain portion 16 of the front housing 15. Rear ends of the sideportions 21 b are fixed to the guide rails 14 by screws S1 respectivelyfrom an upper side.

The holder members 24 are positioned at an inner side in the widthdirection of the vehicle relative to the respective side portions 21 bof the fixed frame 21. Specifically, the holder members 24 are arrangedat positions away from a center of the front housing 15 in the widthdirection so that distances from the center to the respective positionsare substantially the same. The holder members 24 have substantially thesame configurations so as to be symmetrical with respect to a centerline of the front housing 15 in the width direction.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a plan view and a side view each illustrating theholder member 24 provided at a left side when viewed from a front of thevehicle, and a torsion spring 25 serving as a spring member attached tothe holder member 24. Each of the holder members 24 made of resinintegrally includes a plate-shaped base portion 31 in contact with thebottom portion 16 c of the drain portion 16, a front wall portion 32extending upward from a front edge of the base portion 31, and an innerwall portion 33 extending upward from an inner edge of the base portion31. The holder member 24 further includes a protruding portion 34extending rearward from a center of the base portion 31 in the widthdirection. The protruding portion 34 includes a screw insertion bore 34a penetrating in a vertical direction of the vehicle. Screws S2 insertedinto the screw insertion bores 34 a of both the holder members 24 asillustrated in FIG. 3 are tightened and fixed to the drain portion 16 ofthe front housing 15.

Each of the holder members 24 includes a spring support column 35connected to the inner wall portion 33 and extending outwardly in thewidth direction of the vehicle so as to be positioned at an upper sideof the base portion 31. The spring support column 35 serves as a springsupport portion and substantially has a cylindrical shape in a crosssection. A length of the spring support column 35 in the width directionof the vehicle is substantially equal to a length of the base portion 31in the width direction of the vehicle. The spring support column 35includes an inner end portion in the width direction serving as a fixedend, and an outer end portion in the width direction serving as a freeend to thereby support the torsion spring 25 in a cantilever manner.

Each of the holder members 24 also includes an extending portion 36extending forward from the front wall portion 32 and bending upward tobe thereby substantially formed into an L-shape, and a grip portion 37serving as a frame support portion and formed at an end of the extendingportion 36 into an arc shape. The grip portion 37 has a shape where anupper side of a cylinder penetrating substantially in the widthdirection of the vehicle is open. The front portion 21 a of the fixedframe 21 is assembled on the grip portion 37 from an upper side. Thefront portion 21 a of the fixed frame 21 is held at the grip portion 37accordingly.

A positional relationship between the drain portion 16 of the fronthousing 15 and the fixed frame 21 will be explained below. The fixedframe 21 is positioned at the upper side of the bottom portion 16 c ofthe drain portion 16 and is supported by the holder members 24 providedon the bottom portion 16 c so as to have a clearance relative to thebottom portion 16 c of the drain portion 16. That is, at least a portionof the fixed frame 21 overlaps the drain portion 16 in the longitudinaldirection of the vehicle, which may lead to an enlarged space for theroof opening 10 a in the longitudinal direction compared to a case wherethe fixed frame 21 and the drain portion 16 are arranged side by side inthe longitudinal direction.

In addition to the fixed frame 21 as mentioned above, the torsionsprings 25 biasing the movable frame 22 are also supported by therespective holder members 24. Each of the torsion springs 25 is made ofa wire rod substantially having a circular shape in a cross section. Acoil portion 41 of the torsion spring 25 is arranged around the supportcolumn 35 of the holder member 24. That is, an axis of the coil portion41 is substantially parallel to an axis of the spring support column 35.At a time of assembly, the coil portion 41 is attached to the springsupport column 35 from the free end thereof.

One end coil portion pulled from an outer end of the coil portion 41 inthe width direction of the vehicle extends rearward to form an armportion 42. The other end coil portion pulled from an inner end of thecoil portion 41 in the width direction forms an engagement end portion43 engaging with the bottom portion 16 c of the drain portion 16 via acut portion 31 a formed at the base portion 31 of the holder member 24.Because the engagement end portion 43 of the torsion spring 25 isengaged from a lower side with the bottom portion 16 c of the drainportion 16, the arm portion 42 is biased upwardly. The arm portion 42 issufficiently longer than the engagement end portion 43 and is bent at amiddle portion outwardly in the width direction as illustrated in FIG.5A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a sliding member 44 serving as asliding portion and made of resin is fixedly provided at an end of eachof the arm portions 42. The sliding member 44 includes a sliding surface45 formed to curve substantially in a rotation direction of the armportion 42 relative to the axis of the spring support column 35 whenviewed from a side (see FIG. 5B). The sliding surface 45 is formed intoa planar shape in the width direction of the vehicle. The sliding member44 also includes an engagement recess portion 46 serving as anengagement portion.

The movable frame 22 includes a front portion 22 a extending in thewidth direction of the vehicle and a pair of side portions 22 bconnected to both ends of the front portion 22 a in the width directionand extending rearward. Rear ends of the side portions 22 b of themovable frame 22 are rotatably supported by support members 26 fixed tothe guide rails 14 respectively. Specifically, the support members 26include rotation shafts 27 extending outwardly in the width direction soas to be inserted into connection bores 22 c formed at the respectiverear ends of the side portions 22 b of the movable frame 22.Accordingly, the movable frame 22 is configured to be rotatable relativeto the rotation shafts 27 at the rear ends of the side portions 22 b sothat the front portion 22 a moves upward and downward. The supportmembers 26 are fixed to the guide rails 14 by means of screws S3respectively from an upper side.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4 b, a guide groove 51 is formed at alower side surface (facing the fixed frame 21) of the side portion 22 bof the movable frame 22 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction ofthe side portion 22 b. The guide groove 51 includes an upper bottomportion 52 extending in the longitudinal direction of the side portion22 b and a pair of side wall portions 53 extending downwardly from bothedges of the upper bottom portion 52 in the width direction of thevehicle. The side wall portions 53 extend in the longitudinal directionof the side portion 22 b. A lower side surface 52 a formed at the upperbottom portion 52 includes a sliding surface having a planar shape andbeing slidable with the sliding member 44 formed at the torsion spring25. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, each of the guide grooves 51 issubstantially formed into a U-shape in a cross section openingdownwardly by the upper bottom portion 52 and the side wall portions 53.

The movable frame 22 is formed by a metallic member having a circularhollow shape. A slit is formed at an appropriate position of themetallic member within a range corresponding to each of the sideportions 22 b to thereby define a predetermined portion at an end siderelative to the slit. The predetermined portion is press-worked so as toform the guide groove 51. In addition, a portion of the metallic memberdefined by the slit not being press-worked forms an engagement portion54 engageable with the engagement recess portion 46 of the slidingmember 44. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, a cylindrical portion includingthe engagement portion 54 of each of the side portions 22 b issubstantially formed into a square shape in a cross section.

Each of the sliding members 44 attached to the torsion spring 25 isfitted to the guide groove 51. The sliding surface 45 of the slidingmember 44 makes contact thoroughly in the width direction thereof withthe lower side surface 52 a of the upper bottom portion 52 of the guidegroove 51. Thus, the biasing force of the torsion spring 25 actingupwardly in the moving or rotation direction thereof relative to thecoil portion 41 (i.e., an upward biasing force) is applied from the armportion 42 to each of the side portions 22 b of the movable frame 22 viathe sliding member 44. In addition, the engagement recess portion 46 ofthe sliding member 44 is formed to open to the engagement portion 54 ofthe side portion 22 b of the movable frame 22 so as to be engageablewith the engagement portion 54.

The mesh member 23 is made of a cloth having flexibility andpermeability. A lower end portion 23 a of the mesh member 23 isconnected to the fixed frame 21 in such a manner to be wound by thefront portion 21 a and a portion of the side portions 21 b of the fixedframe 21. In addition, an upper end portion 23 b of the mesh member 23is connected to the movable frame 22 in such a manner to be wound by thefront portion 22 a and a portion of the side portions 22 b of themovable frame 22.

An operation of the deflector 12 according to the embodiment will beexplained with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. In a closed state of themovable panel 13 as illustrated in FIG. 6A, a portion of the movablepanel 13 is positioned above the deflector 12. In this state, themovable frame 22 of the deflector 12 receives the biasing force of thearm portion 42 of the torsion spring 25 so that the front portion 22 amakes contact with the movable panel 13. That is, the biasing force ofthe torsion spring 25 is received by the movable panel 13 via themovable frame 22. Therefore, the movable frame 22 is brought in theretracted state. At this time, the mesh member 23 of the deflector 12 isretracted in a state to be deflected in the rearward direction of thevehicle from connected portions with the fixed frame 21 and the movableframe 22.

In a state where the movable panel 13 is slid in the rearward directionof the vehicle from the aforementioned closed state, the movable frame22 is released from the movable panel 13. Then, the both side portions22 b of the movable frame 22 receive the upward biasing force in therotation direction relative to the coil portions 41 of the torsionsprings 25 from the arm portions 42 via the sliding members 44 so thatthe movable frame 22 moves (rotates) upwardly relative to the rotationshafts 27. In a case where the movable frame 22 is moving (rotating),each of the sliding members 44 of the arm portions 42 moves towards thefront portion 22 a of the movable frame 22 along the guide groove 51 ina state where the sliding surface 45 of the sliding member 44 isslidably in contact with the upper bottom portion 52 of the guide groove51. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, when the engagement recess portion46 of the sliding member 44 reaches the engagement portion 54 of theguide groove 51 so as to engage therewith, the movable frame 22 ismaintained at the raised position where the mesh member 23 is maintainedto be stretched taut.

According to the embodiment, the front portion 21 a of the fixed frame21 connected to the lower end portion 23 a of the mesh member 23 isarranged above the drain portion 16 of the front housing 15 so as tohave the clearance therebetween. Thus, the mesh member 23 is restrainedfrom making contact with water collected in the drain portion 16 whenthe deflector 12 is in the retracted state.

In addition, in a state where the torsion springs 25 apply the biasingforce to the movable frame 22, a reaction force (a moment force) isgenerated at the coil portions 41 of the torsion springs 25 so as tomove or rotate one end portion (facing the arm portion 42) of each ofthe coil portions 41 downwardly and move or rotate the other end portionof each of the coil portions 41 upwardly. Thus, according to the presentembodiment, the end portion of the spring support column 35 of each ofthe holder members 4 receiving an upward load by the aforementionedmoment force (and facing the engagement end portion 43) serves as thefixed end and the opposite end portion facing the arm portion 42 servesas the free end.

In a structure where a wall portion is formed at the outer edge of thebase portion 31 in the width direction of the vehicle and the springsupport column 35 extends from the wall portion inwardly in the widthdirection, i.e., where the end portion (the inner end portion) of thespring support column 35 facing the engagement end portion 43 serves asthe free end, the free end of the spring support column 35 may be raisedupward by the moment force. Thus, a distance between the free end of thespring support column 35 and the bottom portion 16 c of the drainportion 16 increases, thereby decreasing the biasing force of thetorsion spring 25. On the other hand, according to the presentembodiment, the end portion of the spring support column 35 facing theengagement end portion 43 serves as the fixed end to thereby restrainthe end portion from being raised up. As a result, the decrease of thebiasing force of each of the torsion springs 25 is restrained.

Further, the deflector 12 according to the present embodiment istightened and fixed from the upper side by means of the screws S1, S2,and S3, which may lead to an easy assembly and an easy replacement ofthe deflector 12. In addition, each of the holder members 24 isconfigured so as to secure both of the fixed frame 21 and the torsionspring 25 relative to the front housing 15. As a result, the deflector12 may be handled as one assembly. Specifically, in a case of replacingthe deflector 12, for example, the screws S1, S2, and S3 are removedfirst. Then, the fixed frame 21, the movable frame 22, the mesh member23, the holder members 24, the torsion springs 25, and the supportmembers 26 are handled as the single assembly. Consequently, theassembly and replacement of the deflector 12 may be easily performed.

According to the embodiment, the front portion 21 a of the fixed frame21 serving as a connection portion connected to the mesh member 23 isprovided above the drain portion 16 that is formed along the front edgeof the roof opening 10 a while having the clearance relative to thedrain portion 16. That is, at least a portion of the fixed frame 21 isarranged so as to overlap the drain portion 16 in the longitudinaldirection of the vehicle. Thus, compared to a case where the fixed frame21 and the drain portion 16 are arranged side by side in thelongitudinal direction of the vehicle, a space for the roof opening 10 aof the roof 10 is enlarged in the embodiment. In addition, the meshmember 23 is restrained from making contact with liquid such asrainwater in the drain portion 16.

In addition, according to the embodiment, the holder members 24 arearranged between the drain portion 16 and the front portion 21 a so asto hold the front portion 21 a of the fixed frame 21. Thus, theclearance between the front portion 21 a of the fixed frame 21 and thedrain portion 16 is stably maintained by the holder members 24.

Further, according to the embodiment, the holder members 24 support bothof the fixed frame 21 and the torsion springs 25, thereby restraining anincrease of the number of components.

The embodiment may be modified or changed as below. According to theembodiment, the torsion springs 25 are supported by the front housing 15via the respective holder members 24. Alternatively, the torsion springs25 may be directly supported by the front housing 15 or the guide rails14.

In addition, according to the embodiment, the holder members 24 hold thefixed frame 21. Alternatively, the holder members 24 may be omitted sothat the fixed frame 21 is held by only the fixation of the respectiverear ends of the side portions 21 b. Further alternatively, while theholder members 24 are being omitted, the fixed frame 21 may beintegrally formed at the front housing 15 or the guide rails 14.

Configurations of the guide groove 51 and the torsion spring 25 may beappropriately changed or modified. For example, configurations asillustrated in FIG. 7 are applicable. In FIG. 7, an outer periphery ofeach of the side portions 22 b of the movable frame 22 is resin-moldedto thereby form a resin-molded portion 22 d. Then, a guide groove 61opening outwardly in the width direction of the vehicle extends in thelongitudinal direction of the side portion 22 b. An end of the armportion 42 of the torsion spring 25 is bent inwardly in the widthdirection of the vehicle to form a bending end portion 62 that is fittedto the guide groove 61. In such configuration, a generation of abnormalnoise when the arm portion 42 is slidably connected to the guide groove61 is restrained. In FIG. 7, the guide groove 61 is formed at theoutward side in the width direction of the vehicle. Instead, the guidegroove 61 may be formed at the inward side in the width direction of thevehicle. Further, in FIG. 7, the side portion 22 b of the movable frame22 is resin-molded. Instead, a resin material may be provided at aninner side of the guide groove 61.

According to the embodiment, the end portion of the spring supportcolumn 35 of the holder member 24 facing the engagement end portion 43serves as the fixed end while the opposite end portion of the springsupport column 35 facing the arm portion 42 serves the free end.Alternatively, the fixed end and the free end may be inverselyspecified.

Further, according to the embodiment, the torsion spring 25 is used asthe spring member to bias the movable frame 22. At this time, the springmember is not limited to the torsion spring 25 and may be an appropriatemember other than the torsion spring 25.

Furthermore, the deflector 12 may be raised or retracted by anelectrical power in association with the opening and closing operationof the movable panel 13.

According to the aforementioned embodiment, because the movable frame 22is maintained at the raised position by the engagement with the torsionsprings 25, the mesh member 23 is restrained from excessively extendingbecause of the application of the biasing force of the torsion springs25 relative to the mesh member 23 as in a structure where the meshmember maintains the movable frame at the raised position. Therefore, anincrease of wind noise caused by the excessive extension of the meshmember that leads to an increase of the height of the deflector may berestrained. In addition, because positions where the movable frame 22and the torsion springs 25 engage with one another are not fixed and areslidable (movable), the movable frame 22 is restrained from sliding inthe longitudinal direction of the vehicle while rotating. As a result,according to the embodiment, the sunroof apparatus 11 may be downsizedand the increase of wind noise may be restrained.

In addition, according to the embodiment, the deflector 12 includes thegrip portion 37 supporting the fixed frame 21 relative to the roof 10and being provided at the inner side in the width direction of thevehicle relative to the outer edge of the fixed frame 21 in the widthdirection.

Accordingly, an enlargement of the deflector 12 in the width directionof the vehicle may be restrained.

Further, according to the embodiment, the deflector 12 includes thespring support column 35 supporting the torsion spring 25 relative tothe roof 10 and being provided at the inner side in the width directionof the vehicle relative to the outer edge of the fixed frame 21 in thewidth direction.

Accordingly, the enlargement of the deflector 12 in the width directionof the vehicle may be restrained.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment, the spring member includes thetorsion spring 25, and the spring support column 35 supports the coilportion 41 formed at the torsion spring 25 in a cantilever manner.

Accordingly, the coil portion 41 of the torsion spring 25 may be easilyassembled on the spring support column 35.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment, the spring support column 35extends in the width direction of the vehicle and the fixed end of thespring support column 35 is provided at the inner side in the widthdirection.

Accordingly, the free end of the spring support column 35 is restrainedfrom being raised up by the reaction force of the torsion spring 25. Asa result, a decrease of the biasing force of the torsion spring 25 maybe restrained.

Furthermore, according to the embodiment, at least one of the slidingportion 44 and the guide groove 51 is made of the resin material.

Accordingly, a generation of an abnormal noise at a time when thesliding member 44 makes slidable contact with the guide groove 51 may berestrained.

As a result, according to the embodiment, the increase of wind noise isrestrained.

The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of thepresent invention have been described in the foregoing specification.However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to beconstrued as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further,the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrativerather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others,and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all suchvariations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embracedthereby.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A deflector apparatus for a vehicle forarrangement along a front-inner periphery of an opening formed in a roofportion of the vehicle, the deflector apparatus comprising: a fixedframe provided at the roof portion; a movable frame positioned at anupper side of the fixed frame and being rotatable between a raisedposition and a retracted position; a mesh member connected to the fixedframe and the movable frame and brought to a raised state and aretracted state by a rotation of the movable frame, the mesh memberextending above a surface of the roof portion in the raised state; aspring member biasing the movable frame to the raised position, thespring member including a sliding portion fitted to a guide groove thatis formed at the movable frame and slidably making contact with theguide groove to transmit a biasing force of the spring member in a statewhere the movable frame is rotating, the spring member further includingan engagement portion engaging with the movable frame when the movableframe is in the raised position, the movable frame being configured tobe maintained at the raised position by the engagement with theengagement portion of the spring member; and a spring support portionsupporting the spring member relative to the roof portion and beingprovided at an inner side in a width direction of the vehicle relativeto an outer edge of the fixed frame in the width direction.
 2. Thedeflector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spring memberincludes a torsion spring, and the spring support portion supports acoil portion formed at the torsion spring in a cantilever manner.
 3. Thedeflector apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spring supportportion extends in the width direction of the vehicle and a fixed end ofthe spring support portion is provided at the inner side in the widthdirection.
 4. The deflector apparatus according to claim 1, wherein atleast one of the sliding portion and the guide groove is made of a resinmaterial.
 5. The deflector apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a frame support portion supporting the fixed frame relativeto the roof portion and being provided at an inner side in a widthdirection of the vehicle relative to an outer edge of the fixed frame inthe width direction.